GOALKEEPER Simon Eastwood has joined League One new boys Oxford United from Blackburn Rovers.

The 26-year-old is out of contract at Ewood Park and had not been offered new terms.

The stopper returns for a second spell at the Kassam Stadium and reunites with former Rovers boss Michael Appleton who he played under at Portsmouth.

Eastwood, who spent a season at Oxford in 2010-11 but struggled to break into the starting XI, has signed a one-year deal with the option for a further 12 months.

He said: "It’s a lot different to when I was here before. Back then I was just a kid of 17 or 18 but now I’ve got a hundred times more experience. It feels like a new club and I’m looking forward to it.

“I played with Michael Appleton before at Portsmouth and felt I really progressed there. He was a big part of why I signed here.”

Eastwood joined Rovers from Portsmouth in 2013 and made 18 appearances in his three years at the club.